After a substantially long wait, Elden Ring finally got a trailer at Summer Game Fest, and an exceptional one at that. Turns out Elden Ring actually exists. Not only that, but it has been further revealed that Elden Ring will have online co-op. Ohhh, Elden Ring.
After the announcement that Elden Ring actually does exist, publishing studio Bandai Namco put up a website for the game, which lists that the player can “call upon allies for aid.” Furthermore, in the press kit attached to the website, they elaborate that players will be able to “…traverse on foot or horseback, alone or online with friends across grassy plains, suffocating swamps and lush forests.”
Those keen-eyed viewers of the trailer yesterday may have noticed From Software hinting at the ability to play online co-op in Elden Ring. At about a minute and 41 seconds into the trailer, the unnamed protagonist crushes a cube in his hand, and summons blue phantoms into his world.
For veterans of From Software games, this part of the trailer likely feels very familiar. In Demon’s Souls, blue phantoms were allied players, able to be summoned into your game for co-op play via the Blue Eye Stone. Similarly, the White Sign Soapstone in Dark Souls allowed players to summon allied phantoms.
Unfortunately, aside from Bloodborne, From Software’s online co-op has always been a bit obtuse to navigate. Players would have to meet up at the same location, and place their summon sign on the ground. If you wanted to play with a friend, you had to navigate the summon signs in any particular area to find the exact one your friend placed.
Hopefully Elden Ring follows Bloodborne in having online co-op be a little more accessible, but no details on the exact mechanics have been announced so far. Similarly, no PvP invasions has been announced for Elden Ring yet, which were a staple of the Souls series.
We’ll likely find out more before the game launches next year. Elden Ring is set to release on January 21, 2022, on current and next-gen consoles.
